In 1984, the University of Illinois instituted a program to reduce the rate of suicide among its students. A policy required any student who threatened or attempted suicide to attend 4 sessions of professional assessment. The consequences of not attending included withdrawal from the university. The rate of suicide at locations within Champaign County decreased from a rate of 6.91 per 100,000 students during the 8 years before the program to a rate of 3.08 during the 18 years of the program. Implications for programs & policies at institutions of higher education are discussed. (LC) (46 refs)